1 John 4:7-16 (The Message) God Is Love
7-10My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. 11-12My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.
The word of God is very clear about love. Love isn't a feeling that we humans have created. It is the very essence of a God who created us to dwell in relationship with Him! We cannot know love and live in love when we are separated from God. And the opposite is also true...when we live in accordance to His will and purposes, and we strive to see His Kingdom reign upon this earth, we will live in love. In God is all that is right. And to love is right!
Lately, I have been very disturbed by the media coverage that some "Christians" have been receiving. I understand that as I follow Christ, I should be bothered, even at times outraged, at the way that our government has determined what is moral, ethical, or permissible. God's truth is being overshadowed by man's own desires. However, the behavior that many self- labeled Christians are displaying brings out a righteous anger in me. Why would someone who claims to know Christ choose the path of hatred? According to the list in Galatians 5, those that live according to the Spirit will show the fruit of that relationship.
22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Those that are lost do not know the love of Christ. Those that are found in Christ should exemplify the act of love in every facet of our world. We have received love from the Father through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. We have been blessed to experience the limitless love through forgiveness and salvation. The Holy Father has lavished His love on us! So, why would we not in return hunger for those who do not know the love of the Father? Why do we condemn and curse the ones who need to be loved the most?
I am so very grateful for a God who destroyed the conditions of the old law that man had been living under by sending Jesus to become the new law. We no longer must live under a law that no one could possibly ever fulfill anyway. Jesus turned the world upside down. And He did it through love.
13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.
The word of God is very clear about love. Love isn't a feeling that we humans have created. It is the very essence of a God who created us to dwell in relationship with Him! We cannot know love and live in love when we are separated from God. And the opposite is also true...when we live in accordance to His will and purposes, and we strive to see His Kingdom reign upon this earth, we will live in love. In God is all that is right. And to love is right!
Lately, I have been very disturbed by the media coverage that some "Christians" have been receiving. I understand that as I follow Christ, I should be bothered, even at times outraged, at the way that our government has determined what is moral, ethical, or permissible. God's truth is being overshadowed by man's own desires. However, the behavior that many self- labeled Christians are displaying brings out a righteous anger in me. Why would someone who claims to know Christ choose the path of hatred? According to the list in Galatians 5, those that live according to the Spirit will show the fruit of that relationship.
22-23But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Those that are lost do not know the love of Christ. Those that are found in Christ should exemplify the act of love in every facet of our world. We have received love from the Father through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. We have been blessed to experience the limitless love through forgiveness and salvation. The Holy Father has lavished His love on us! So, why would we not in return hunger for those who do not know the love of the Father? Why do we condemn and curse the ones who need to be loved the most?
I am so very grateful for a God who destroyed the conditions of the old law that man had been living under by sending Jesus to become the new law. We no longer must live under a law that no one could possibly ever fulfill anyway. Jesus turned the world upside down. And He did it through love.
1 comment:
Much to think about! Love you!!
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